Stellar mare claims Big Star Trophy

A mare with a stellar international record in young horse classes headed today’s Prestige Italia British Six Year Old Final at the British Young Horse Championships.

The UAE’s Humaid Al Muhairi rode Al Shira’aa Farms’ Argentina De Kreisker Z to finish top of a large class of 56. Only 10 jumped clear in the first round, and in the jump-off Humaid took advantage of a late draw to shave more than 1sec off Lauren Caroline’s leading time on BE Thiassi, relegating them to the runner-up spot. All three top placings were filled by mares, with Lottie Tutt and Billy Dion taking third.

Argentina De Kreisker Z (by Aganix Du Seigneur Z and out of Telysette) has already won numerous young horse titles, including finishing champion at the Sharjah Young Horse Finals earlier this year. Today’s win saw them presented with the Big Star Trophy, given in honour of Nick Skelton’s 2016 Olympic champion.

“She is a fantastic horse, and I am very excited to go to Lanaken with her – I hope to win there too because she is good,” said Humaid of his winning ride. 

Benjamin Bick's ride Nautical Wind won the Big Star bonus for jumping treble clear in one of the qualifiers, and then going on to finish highest placed of the eligible horses in the six-year-old final, while BE Thiassi received the British-bred prize. 

In the Billy Stud Auction British Five Year Old Championship, Laura Renwick led from the start with her own NFS Tiloubet. Drawn third to go in the first round, Laura produced the second of the 21 first round clears and had the disadvantage of going very early in the jump-off.

But Laura knew exactly what to do to set the standard, and her fast round of 36.11sec was more than a second quicker than second placed Benjamin Bick and Ocella V, with Jason Fitzpatrick taking third with Al Shira’aa Farms’ King Leon Z.

“I’m really happy with how my horse performed, he’s very green at this level but he jumped two superb rounds and it was a privilege to ride him today,” said Laura. “This is what we’ve been aiming for this year with him, so he’ll probably now have a well-earned holiday and we’ll look forward to next year.”

The homebred NFS Tiloubet is a gelding by Taloubet Z, out of a full sister to Laura’s former top horse Bintang II. “For the small breeding business we have, it’s so fulfilling to get these sort of results with our horses,” added Laura, who also won the British Breeders prize from British Showjumping.  

Lucy Townley and Billy Portobello picked up The Billy Stud’s bonus prize for the highest place horse bought at one of their auctions.

Earlier in the day, Olympic gold medallist Scott Brash won the Mares of Macha 1.30m Grand Prix, while James Smith secured the win in the final 1.40m Grand Prix, riding Tayvale Hunky Dory. 

For full results click here.